The Australian Government has approved a AU$613m duplication of the Bruce Highway from Cooroy to Curra to provide motorists with a four-lane divided carriageway to improve safety and reduce congestion.

Queensland’s federal and state governments are funding AU$488m and AU$125m, respectively. This investment is a part of federal’s AU$22bn infrastructure investment during 2009-10.

The work on the Cooroy to Curra (Section B) will be started in 2009 and be completed by 2012.

The project will help the region to accommodate further increases in traffic volumes, which is expected to grow at 4% to 5% each year.

The crash rates are 40% higher on Bruce Highway compared to other roads on the National Network.